Switch



May 23,

M. s. 'Gnom- SWITCH Filed Aug.

2 Shoots-Sheet 1 M. B. GROUT May `23, 1944.

SWITCH f Filed Apg. 7, 1942 ZVSheets-Sheet 2 4 :www

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Patented May 23, 1944 UNITED SWITCH Martin B. Grout. Chicago, Ill., assigner to Jefferson Electric Company, Bellwood, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application August 7, 1942, Serial No. 453,978

8 Claims.

This invention relates to switches, and more particularly to switches of the manually operable type adapted to the control of a plurality of circuits such as the main lighting circuits and the filament heating circuits of fluorescent lamps.

An object of this invention is to provide a switch of the pull-chain actuated type adapted to the control of the starting and lighting circuits of hot cathode gas discharge lamps such as fluorescent lamps.

Another object of this invention is to provide a manually actuated switch having sets of contacts and control elements for controlling the sequence of operation of the sets of contacts to eiect temporary establishment of a circuit through one set of contacts and to control the establishment and interruption of a circuit through another set of contacts.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switch of the pull-chain actuated type, the switch mechanism for which is sectionalized in such manner that by assembling a number of sections a switch is provided having a single operating member which is adapted to control a number of circuits.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pull-chain actuated switch in which the pullchain is easily removed and replaced.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevational view of a.

switch embodying a preferred form of this invention, the section being taken on line I I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2 2 `of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View of the switch taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a partially exploded perspective drawing of the switch shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive;

Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a group of associated parts of the switch shown in Figs. l to 5, inclusive;

Figs. 7 and 8 are perspective views of spring contacts constituting a cooperating pair;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a contact controlling cam;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken on line III-III of Fig. 11 illustrating a switch shown in the preceding figures but with a section added to enable the switch to control the lament circuits of an additional lamp;

Fig. 1l is a sectional view taken on line II I I of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a conductor anchoring clip.

The drawings illustrate a switch of the pullchain type adapted to control the main or lighting circuit of a fluorescent lamp, for example, as well as the filament heating circuit or circuits. In lighting such lamps it is desirable to heat the laments momentarily and then open the lament circuits of the lamp as the main circuit effects the lighting discharge within the tube. Hence the present switch is provided with means for momentarily closing the filament circuits, and then automatically opening such circuits and also with means for closing the main lighting circuit. The closing of such main lighting circuit and the momentary closing and opening of the filament circuits, in accordance with the mechanism of the disclosed switch, are effected upon the operation of a pull-chain yoperated shaft. Upon the subsequent operation of the shaft by the chain, the main lighting circuit is opened to extinguish the lamp.

In Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings a lamp casing is shown comprising two mating sections preferably moulded of insulating material, such as Bakelite, the sections being designated generally by the reference characters I0 and II. Section I0 is provided with a recess or chamber I2 into which project spring arms I3, I4 carrying contacts I5 and I6 respectively at their free ends as shown in Fig. 3. In Figs. 7 and 8 the arms are shown in detached relation. The bases of the arms are shaped to seat snugly in recesses formed in the outer face of the casing section I0, as shown in Fig. 3 and hence require no additional attaching means other than the cover plate I'I.

The casing section IU is provided with a wall I8 having a boss or stationary hub-like extension I9 which has a cylindrical horizontal passage 20 therethrough.

The section II has a wall 2l provided with a passage 22 aligned with passage 20. The diameters of each of the passages 20 and 22 is such as to enable the passages to receive and journal a shaft 23 which is shown as square in cross-section except at the end portion which projects into a chamber 24 provided in casing section II, which end portion 23a is cylindrical. A pair of 'Y contact arms 25 and 26, provided with contacts 2l and 28 at their free ends is positioned in the chamber 24 as shown in Fig. 1. The arms 25 and 28 are similar to arms i3 and i4 and have their bases snugly seated in recesses formed in the outer face of section il as shown in said gure. A cover plate 28 for section Il retains the arm bases against outward displacement from their respective recesses.

Positioned in section lil, within the chamber l2 is a cam 3i! having a square opening by means of which it is mounted on the shaft for oscillatory movement therewith. The cam 3i! has a dwell surface 38a as shown in Fig. 3 whereby when the,

cam is rotated from the position shown through a suitable arc, (in the form of the switch shown, an arc of 180 is the normal range of movement) contact l5 will 4be moved into engagement with contact I6 for closing a circuit or circuits of the filaments of a lamp, wires 3l and 32, connected to the bases of the Contact arms i3 and Eli respectively, constituting portions of the circuits of the lamp filaments.

It will be seen that when the shaft 23 and cam are moved clockwise from the position shown in Fig. 3 through an arc of 180 and then restored to the normal position illustrated, the contacts l5 and I6 will be movedl into engagement and retained in such position during the major portion of the interval required for so moving the cam. In the operation of the switch this period is relatively short, that is, of a few seconds duration, but is sufficiently long to effect adequate heating of the lamp filaments in accordance with usual practice.

In chamber v2li of the casing section i I is a second cam 33 having a dwell surface 33a which, when the cam is operated counterclockvvise as viewed in Fig. 1 (but clockwise when considering Fig. 3) to a position 180 of arc from the normal position shown in Fig. 1 will effect closure of the contacts 27 and 28 and retain the contacts in closed position; In other words, the portionV of the dwell indicated as 33h will, at the end of the 180 movement mentioned, be in engagement with the end of the arm 26 or contact 28, thus retaining thelatter in circuit closing relation With respect to the contact 2l.

The cam 33 is operated in one direction through 180 of arc on each operation of the switch, and hence on kthe operation of the cam following that above described the cam will be restored to the position shown in Fig. 1. The dwell surface 33b terminates in a break or drop 33 which as the cam begins to move from the circuit closing position to the circuit opening position, enables the resilient contact arm 26 to separate the contact 28 suddenly from the contact 2l for quickly breaking the circuit.

Wires 34 and 35, connected to the bases of the contact arms 25 and 2G respectively are, in use of the switch, part of the main lighting circuit of the lamp. Hence it will be seen that When the cam 33 has been moved from the normal off position shown in Fig. 1 to the circuit opening or on position wherein the contacts are closed, the main lamp lighting circuit will be closed, and it Will remain closed until the cam is moved in the same direction to the off or the circuit opening position. Cam 33 is mounted on the cylindrical end portion23i and by mechanism to be described is operated in one direction with stepby-step movements, each of an arc of 180. The cam 30, however. being mounted on the square portion of the shaft moves with the shaft through an arc of 180 from the position shown in Fig. 3

and is then restored to the illustrated position for momentary closure only of the filament circuits. Hence on the manual operation of the shaft 23 from normal non-circuit closing position and thereafte1` effecting the restoration of the shaft to that position, the filament circuits of the lamp will be closed through contacts 2l and 28 and will remain closed until the succeeding manual operation of the switch.

In the present embodiment of the invention, pavvl and ratchet mechanism is shown for effecting the unidirectional operation of the cam 33 with a step-by-step movement each of an arc of The parts of the mechanism and their relationship are shown in Fig. 5. In said figure a metal disc 36 is shown having a rectangular opening whereby the disc 36 is mounted on the lefthand end of the square portion of the shaft 23 and hence is moved with the shaft as the latter is operated manually in one direction from normal position and is then restored automatically to that position. The disc 36 is provided with a pair of resilient operating pawls 36h, the free ends of which are 180 of arc apart. The ends are adapted for engaging ratchet teeth 31 formed in the adjacent side Wall of the cam 33 as shown in Fig. 9. The wall of the cam is shown provided with a circular recess 38 which receives the disc 36 when the parts are in the snugly assembled relation as shown in Fig. 2.

Upon each manual operation of the shaft 23 in operating the switch,.the pawls 36h, engaging the ratchet teeth 31 will move the cam through an arc of 180, and since means are provided for restraining movement of the cam in the opposite direction, the pawls 35 will move with the shaft t0 the initial position of rotation wherein they will each engage the opposite ratchet tooth 3l'. For preventing rearward movement of the cam 33, a disc 3S is shown provided with holding pawls 3.9a which are directed oppositely with respect to pawls Stb, and are arranged to engage alternately stationary ratchet means. In the form of theA irl.- vention shown, the plate 29 is shown With a pair of openings 40 therein having end Walls lilla arranged 180 of arc apart which constitute, in effect, stationary ratchet teeth which are engageable alternately by the ends of the pawls 39a, for preventing rearward movement of the disc 39 and the cam 33, the latter two elements being relatively non-rotatably connected by lugs 4| on the disc which project into recesses d2 in theA cam.

By means of the above mechanism the cani 33 is operated in one direction by the operating pawls Bcband is restrained from operation in the reverse direction by the engagement of the holding pawls 39a with the stop members or walls 40a.

For effecting the convenient operation `ofthe shaft manually through the required arc, pullchain mechanism is shown. Such mechanism comprises a drum 123, see Figs. 2 and 6, having a rectangular hub 43a for receiving the Square shaftl 23 whereby arcuate movement of thev drum effects similar movement of the shaft. The drum is positioned in a chamber d4 provided between the walls I8 and 2i' of the respective casing sections I0 and Il as shown in Fig. 2 and extending radially from the drum is an arm l5 provided with a slot 45a for receiving an end connecting link of a ball chain 4t as shown in Fig. 4.V In other words. one .of the terminal balls of the chain is positioned beneath the arm v05 While the remainder of the chain extends around a portion of the drum periphery and then downwardly through an eXteriorly threaded tube 47, Th@

upper end of the tube has a flange 41fwhich seats in an' annular recess 48 formed in the walls of thefcasing sections III and II. The outer portion ofthe tube is threaded and carries a pair of nuts 49 and 50 which may be tightened against opposite walls of a mounting panel or a lamp fixture if it is desired to so mount the switch. The nut 49 also holds in position a retaining plate 52 having ilanges 52a at the ends that engage the lower portions of the casing sections and plates I1 and v2|, as well as a metal plate 53 in assembled relation. An upper rivet 54 is inserted through openings provided in the casing sections I and II, plates I1, 29 and 53 and has its inserted end upset over the latter plate as shown in Fig. 2.

Within the drum 43 is a coil spring 55 having one end'55a (see Fig. 4) attached tothe drum and the opposite end 55b extending into an anchoring recess in the Wall IB (see Fig. 2).

By means of the mechanism described,it will be seen that with the switch in the olf position as shown in Fig. 4, the chain when pulled outwardly (downwardly in the drawings) will move the drum, the shaft and cams 30 and 33. until the end of the arm 45 contacts stop 56 formed in the chamber 44. Upon release of the chain the tensioned spring will return the drum, shaft and cam to the position shown in Fig. 4 when the terminal ball of the chain engages a stop 51 also provided in the chamber 44. The locations of the stops 56 and 51 are spaced arcuately within the chamber to accommodate a movement of the shaft through the required 180 arc. Y

IIt will be seen that the parts of the switch shown and described can readily be assembled and secured together in position, and since not only the casing sections I0 and I I but the plates I1 and 29 and the cams 30 and 33 are of moulded dielectrical material, special insulation of conducting parts is not required. In use of the switch, merely pulling outwardly of the chain operates the shaft and the cams 30 and 33 through an arc of 180, thus closing the circuitsof the filaments of a lamp as well as the main lighting circuit of the lamp. Release of the chain permits .the spring to return the shaft and cam 30 to their normal positions, thus opening the filament circuits, but leaving the cam 33 in the advanced position and thereby retaining the lighting circuit of the lamp closed. On the next manual operation of the chain the cam 33 will beV advanced another arcuate step of 180, thus opening the lighting circuit. This last operation, incidentally, also again closes momentarily the contacts controlling the lament circuit, asv in the first described'operation of the chain, but such closure is not particularly objectionable since the lamp is extinguished when the `lighting circuit is opened. .Y The switch structure above described is adapted for controlling the circuits of one lamp,l but where two or more lamps are to be controlled simultaneously, a third casing section and associatedcircuit control means can be added to theswitch. In other words, the structure is such that amulti-lamp control switch can be provided without altering essentially the single lamp control structure.

yIn Figs. 10 and 11 a multi-lamp control switchl is shown which has casing sections I0 and .II, which correspond to casing sections I0 and II above described as do all the parts of the switch contained in said sections except that the shaft,

the flanged plate, and the rivet are longer.. To

thecasing section I0 is attached a thirdjcasing-w'w 3 sectionf58,` the cover plate I1 beingv attached to 'the' outer face of the section 58. The flanged plate'52 of Fig. 3 'is replaced by a longer similar plate 52, a-longer rivet 54-is employed and also alonger shaft 23.- 1 f l v Section 58 has a chamber59 therein in Awhich are located contactarms 60 and 6I, identical with arms I3 andI4 and arranged to be connected by wires 62 and 63-respectively in the circuits of the filaments of 'a second lamp to be controlled by the switch. A cam 64, identical with cam 30, is mounted on .the end of the shaft and hence is moved with the shaft in the same manner as cam 30. Cam 64 operates contact armzSI in the same manner as contact arm I4 is operated bycam 39 and concurrentlytherewith. Contacts 65 and 65 thus control the filament circuit of a, second lamp,^closing such circuits momentarily when the chain is pulled vto shift the' switch mechanism from the off-to the on position, and then, upon thereturn of the shaft under the biasing action of the spring 55, opening said lamentrcircuits. The main lighting circuit or the second lamp is controlled by contacts 21 and 28 which are operated by the cam 33. .In Figs. l0 and l1 the parts ofthe switch showntherein which areV identical with the corresponding parts shown kin the -remaining figures,

are designated by like reference characters. l

The improved switch structure shown in Figs. l to. 9 linclusive can be adapted to the control of additional lamps merely by the additionof one or more sections corresponding to section 58 and associated parts without altering` the operating parts of sections I0 and II other than the provision of a longer shaft.- This is of advantage not only in tooling up for single and multiple lamp switches,A Y but in the Aassembly thereof; n f

, For the purpose of convenience in attaching the operating chain 46 or like ilexible vmember to the drum or in Areplacing such an element when broken, the casing is provided preferably with an access passage 61 which communicates,

when open, with the drum chamber 44 and provides access to the attached end of the chain' when the drum is inthe normal position shown in Fig. 4. A broken chain can be detached read# ily, by means of the recess, from the chain' at-v taching member 45 without opening up the casing sections I0 and II and a readily be placed in position by inserting the outer end through the recess, and causing 'it'. yto' follow around the upper portion of the drum and'l thence out through the chain guiding passage in the tube `41.

commodating a suitable instrument by means ofJ which the locking ange 69 can be sprung out of engagement with a shoulder 1I when the closure 63 is to be removed.

'In'attaching the electrical conductorsl 3|, 32',

34, 35 or 62, 63 tothe respective contact arms, the conductors are inserted between rthe inward-- ly turned .flanges 14 of the heads of the respectivearms and the Ybared ends of the conductors secured to the terminal arms 13. However clips new chain can The inner end ofthe chain can thenbe snapped into engagement between the' vadapted to be pressed into contact with the bare ends ofthe conductor Wires after which the arms and engaged ends of the wire preferably arev Adipped, in solder. The upper portions of the clips. have spring arms M sufficiently spaced apartV at their inner ends for receiving there-l between thellower portions of the conductor: insulation. In fact in pressing the conductor into vtheiclips the arms 'lll' are spread'apart slightly whereby, when the assembled conductors and clips are pressed into position inthe heads of the respective contacts, the'arms 'I4' ofthe clips will grip the conductor insulation firmly and thereby relieve the soldered connections from stresses' exerted outwardly on.Y the respective conductors. Where clips l2 are employed, the heads 12- need `not be provided with terminal connectors 'f3'. The use of the improved pre-connected clips and conductors facilitates the final assembly of the switches.`

While I Vhave shown and described a switch which is illustrative of the present invention, changes `in the structureY may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

' 1. A switch for-controlling a plurality of circuits provided with a casing comprising a plurality 'of mating sections secured together in side-by-side-relation and each provided with a cam chamber, at least two of said sections each having a wall provided with a passage for oscillatably journallizing therein a shaft extending transversely of said walls, a shaft journalled in each of said sections and extending through the respective cam chambers, a cam in each of said chambers operable by said shaft inmoving from a normal position, one o f said cams being keyed to] said shaft so as to oscillate therewith, and meansjto prevent reverse rotation of another of said cams as said shaft moves toward normal position, a drum chamber provided between, two

of said'adjacent casing sections, a drum in said drum chamber mounted on said shaft and provided with a flexible member extending to the exterior of the casing whereby thedrum can be operatedmanually to move said shaft arcuately from vsaid normal position, a spring in said.v drum chamber biasing said shaft towardnormal position and arranged to return the same to` said p osition, and cntactsin each of said cam chambers arrangedto be connected in a circuit to be controlled by ltherespective cams upon operation` of the lsaid shaftbysaid flexible means.

2,. A switchv for controllingaplurality of. circuits `comprising Va casing, a` shaft journalled therll, operating means mounted' on said-shaft spring in` said lcasing biasing., saidshaft toward, normal position andarrangedtoreturn thesamel to.; saidf. position following.. operationy thereof: by,-

miy

said; shaft operating means, a flexible manually operable member attached to the shaft operating means and extending to the exterior of the casing' whereby the drum can be operated manually from saidk normal position, one of said cams being keyed to saidshaft and another of said cams being rotatably mounted on said shaft, and means to advance said latter cam step by step fromthe operation of said shaft.

3. A switch for controlling a plurality of circuits comprising a casing, a shaft journalled therein, operating means mounted on said shaft for eifecting operation thereof in one direction from a normalr position, pairs of circuit control contacts in said casing, cams in said casing each associated with a pair of said contactsv and' operable by said shaft for= effectingv the circuit control operations of the respective contacts,v a spring in said casing biasing said shaft toward normalposition and arranged to return the same to said position following operation thereof by said shaft operating means, a flexible manually operable member attached to the shaft operating meansl and extending to the exterior of the casing whereby the shaft can be operated manuallyfrom said normal position, means cooperating With said shaft operating means for limiting the range of movement of said shaft from said normal positionv and arresting movement thereof in said; normal position upon return Vthereto by said spring, one of said cams being keyed to said shaft, and another of said cams being rotatably mounted on said shaft', and ratchet means associated with saidlatter cam and with said shaft to-cause step by step advance of said latter cam.

4. A switch; for controlling the circuits of a i'iuorescent lamp comprising a pair of mating casing sections providing three chambers therein', an oscillatable shaft extending through said chambers and journalled in said casing sections, contact means in one of said chambers for controlling the filament circuits of aV fluorescent lamp, contact means in a second chamber for controlling the main lighting circuit of a lamp, a. cam in said first chamr fixed to said shaft for effecting momentary closure of the contact" means therein during the movement of the shaftv from and tor a normal position, a cam in said" second chamber, means operable by said shaftY for'operating said second cam upon successive movements of the shaft from said normal positionfor-eiecting the alternateclosing and openingzof said contact means in said second chamber.` for closing and opening respectively the.y

lighting circuit of a lamp, a spring biasing said shaft toward said normal position, a drumfi'nl said third chamber secured to saidV shaft, and? aiiexible manually operable member securedtov said drum and extending to the exterior of the*` casing for Operatingfsaid; shaft from said normal position against the biasing action of said? spring.y

5. A switch comprising a casing. having a plu-vv rality of sections secured together in side-by side relation. and providing a plurality of cam chambers and a drum chamber therein, a shaft journalled in aligned openingsinv the walls-off said sections and extending through said chambers, cams onrsaid shaft in said-cam chambers operable by saidA shaft upon movement of theV latterr from a normal position, one of said cams being non-rotatably secured to said shaft, andV anotherK of said-cams being rotatably mounted on Said shaft, means-tc preventthe reverse rotation ofrsaid/ latter camas-said shaft is moved-towardlv its normal position, circuit control means in said cam chambers controlled by the respective cams therein, a spring biasing said shaft toward said normal position, a drum in said drum chamber mounted on said shaft for operating the same from normal position, and a flexible member secured to said drum and extending from said casing for manual operation for moving said shaft from normal position for eifecting cam operation of the circuit control means in the respective cam chambers.

6. A switch comprising a casing providing a plurality of chambers, a shaft extending through said chambers, cams in certain of said chambers mounted on said shaft and operable by the latter, one of said cams being keyed to said shaft, and another of said cams being rotatably mounted thereon, circuit control means associated with said cams and controlled thereby upon operation of the latter by said shaft, a drum in another of the chambers mounted on said shaft, a spring biasing said shaft toward a normal position, means in said last mentioned chamber cooperating with said drum for arresting movement of the shaft under the biasing action of said spring and limiting movement of the shaft in the opposite direction, a flexible member attached to said drum and extending to the exterior of the casing for manual engagement and operation of the shaft from normal position, and means for preventing reverse rotation of said rotatably mounted cam.

rI. A switch for controlling a plurality of circuits comprising a pair of mating casing sections each having a chamber therein and cooperating to provide an intermediate chamber, said sections having aligned passages therein communicating with said chambers, a shaft journalled in said passages and extending through all said chambers, circuit controlling contacts in each of said rst two mentioned chambers, cams in said last mentioned chamber on said shaft for operation thereby for effecting the closing and opening of the contacts in the respective chambers, a spring in said intermediate chamber for biasing said shaft against movement from a normal position and for returning the shaft to said position upon release after movement therefrom, a drum in said intermediate chamber secured to said shaft, a chain secured to said drum and extending from the casing for manual operation for effecting partial rotation of the shaft from normal position for operating said cams, and stop means in said intermediate chamber cooperating with said drum for limiting the operation of the shaft by the chain in one direction and arresting the shaft in said normal position upon return thereto by said spring, one of said cams being operated in both directions by said shaft, and another being operated in one direction only, whereby the contacts operated by said former cam are closed and opened each time the chain is pulled and released and the contacts operated by said latter cam are closed on alternate operations of said chain and are opened on the other operations thereof.

8. A switch comprising a casing built up from a plurality of sections of insulating material which are riveted together and having a shaft oscillatably journalled therein, circuit control means operable by the shaft upon actuation of the latter, a chamber in said casing into which said shaft extends, an operating drum mounted on said shaft and provided with means for releasably attaching thereto an end of a flexible operating member, a passage from said chamber to the exterior of the casing, a flexible operating member having an end releasably attached to said attaching means and trained over a portion of the drum periphery and projecting through said passage to the exterior of the casing for manual operation, said casing having an aperture therein communicating with said chamber to provide access to said attaching means and a removable closure for said aperture.

MARTIN B. GROUT. 

